ShareAustralia and US set for rising refrigerant prices
Refrigeration sectors from numerous countries, including Australia and the US, are facing refrigerant price hikes as result of changing legislation.
Refrigeration sectors from numerous countries, including Australia and the US, are facing refrigerant price hikes as result of changing legislation.
- The Australian price rises are set to materialize from July when a new tax linked to refrigerant GWPs is imposed on HFCs (see Newsletter of the IIR No. 48). Under the scheme, the typical price of refrigerants such as R410A (tax of about 32 €/kg after July 1, 2012) and R134a (47 €/kg) could triple. Overall, the initiative could help Australia to cut carbon emissions by 159 million tonnes a year by 2020.
- In the US, the rising price of R22 is a consequence of the implementation of the Montreal Protocol through HCFC phase-out via Clean Air Act Regulations. Since January 1, 2010, virgin R22 is no longer allowed in new refrigeration equipment but is still allowed for servicing. However, by 2015, consumption has to be cut to 10% of its original baseline, so refrigerant manufacturers are cutting back accordingly. Contractors have reported R22 prices jumping from 70 to 150 €/kg in the last year and estimate that rising prices have caused the cost of a typical air conditioner to rise fourfold.
RAC, May 2012
- The Australian price rises are set to materialize from July when a new tax linked to refrigerant GWPs is imposed on HFCs (see Newsletter of the IIR No. 48). Under the scheme, the typical price of refrigerants such as R410A (tax of about 32 €/kg after July 1, 2012) and R134a (47 €/kg) could triple. Overall, the initiative could help Australia to cut carbon emissions by 159 million tonnes a year by 2020.
- In the US, the rising price of R22 is a consequence of the implementation of the Montreal Protocol through HCFC phase-out via Clean Air Act Regulations. Since January 1, 2010, virgin R22 is no longer allowed in new refrigeration equipment but is still allowed for servicing. However, by 2015, consumption has to be cut to 10% of its original baseline, so refrigerant manufacturers are cutting back accordingly. Contractors have reported R22 prices jumping from 70 to 150 €/kg in the last year and estimate that rising prices have caused the cost of a typical air conditioner to rise fourfold.
RAC, May 2012